To You All at Christmas

THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE WASSAIL Wassail! Wassail! All over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown, Our bowl it is made from the white maple tree, With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee. And here’s to our horse, and to his right ear, God send our master a happy new year: As happy new year as e’er he did see, With my wassailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee. So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek, Pray God send our master a good piece of beef: And a good piece of beef that we all may see; With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee. And here is to Dobbin and to his right eye, Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie, And a good Christmas pie that we all may see; With the wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee. So here’s to Broad Mary and to her broad horn, may God send our master a good crop of corn And a good crop of corn that we all may see, With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee. And here is to Fillpail and to her left ear, Pray God send our master a happy New Year. And a happy New Year as e'er he did see, With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee. And here is to Colly and to her long tail; Pray God send our master he never may fail. A bowl of strong beer! I pray you draw near, And our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear. Come , butler, come fill us a bowl of the best; Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest; But if you do draw us a bowl of the small, Then down shall go butler, bowl and all. Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock, Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock. Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin, For to let these jolly wassailers in. ---Traditional English